When Dinner Turns Into a Power Struggle

You’re asking the wrong question.

It’s not, “How do I get my kid to try new foods?”
The real question is: “What am I actually teaching in this moment?”

The Noise

Parenting advice is full of battles over vegetables, picky eaters, and “just one bite” rules. Some parents swear by it. Some call it cruel. Some laugh it off with memes.

But none of that helps when you’re staring across the table at your child and the tension is rising.

Newsflash

You are the true source of information for your family.

And here’s the truth: most “power struggles” aren’t about the thing at all — not the broccoli, not the bedtime, not the shoes. They’re about what we, as parents, are carrying from our own past.

The Problem

When we get reactive, we can slip into fighting battles that don’t matter. Maybe it’s about proving we’re the boss. Maybe it’s repeating what our parents said to us. Maybe it’s trying to enforce a rule without knowing why.

This is where parenting mistakes happen. And the real damage doesn’t come from the mistake itself — it comes when we refuse to see the insanity and keep repeating it.

The Legacy Question

It’s not about mushrooms, broccoli, or bedtime routines.

It’s about: what kind of human are you raising?

If the only lesson in that moment is “mom has to be right,” then no one wins.

The Better Way Forward

• Notice when the battle has nothing to do with the issue at hand.

• Step back and ask, “What am I actually teaching right now?”

• Course-correct. Even if it means admitting, “That was a dumb upset. Let’s start over.”

When you do this, you’re not just keeping the peace at the table. You’re modeling leadership. You’re showing your child that mistakes can be repaired and that battles don’t define the relationship.

Most reactivity doesn’t really have anything to do with our kids.
It’s about our plates being too full, the overwhelm building, and feeling like we’re one veggie argument away from snapping.

That’s why I created the Mom Survival Guide: Clear the Chaos.
This isn’t about giving you one more thing to do. It’s about lessening the confusion, cutting the overwhelm, and clearing those “where do I even start?” moments — so you can be fully present for the people who matter most.

👉 Download your free guide here  and take the first step toward calm, clarity, and confidence in your home.